In Senate GOP, some early pushback on guns

At least two Republican members of the state Senate — members who form the lion’s share of the coalition that now controls the chamber — had some pretty negative reaction to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s gun control proposals, including a promise to make the state’s assault weapons ban “the strongest in the nation.”

Cuomo explained his ban by noting that no one needs a semi-automatic assault rifle to kill a deer. And that no one needs a clip with more than 10 rounds to kill a deer.

“The Governor’s comments that ‘no one needs 10 bullets to kill a deer’ illustrate a basic lack of understanding and respect for our Second Amendment,” said Sen. Greg Ball, a Putnam County Republican. “The Constitution doesn’t simply apply during deer season and it wasn’t just created for hunters. While I will do everything I can to partner and protect our communities, we must be honest and take a real look at our state’s mental health services, where violent, mentally unstable souls are failed by a kangaroo system daily. The Governor may choose to play politics on this one, and I know the polls are on his side, but if he really wants to save lives, he needs to focus on illegal guns, keeping firearms out of the hands of violent criminals and surgically examine the state’s handling of the violent and mentally unstable, who are sadly falling through the cracks every single day.”

Sen. Kathy Marchione, R-Halfmoon, was a little less drastic, but said the measures Cuomo is talking about — including background checks for people buying ammunition — unfairly hurt law-abiding gun owners.

“I do not support the new restrictive gun control measures the Governor called for today,” Marchione said in a statement. “Like the Governor, I am a responsible gun owner, as are millions of law-abiding New Yorkers. While I have yet to see the specific details or actual legislation, I have concerns – serious concerns – that these proposals could quickly become costly mandates, drive away employers like Remington Arms and curtail the Second Amendment Constitutional freedoms of gun owners. New York State already has some of the toughest gun control laws in America; instead of weakening the Constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens, we should instead focus on keeping firearms out of the hands of seriously mentally ill individuals who pose a clear and present danger to themselves and others. It is time for an honest and adult conversation about mental illness, how it is reported and treated, as well as examining access to mental health care, especially for individuals or families in crisis. Enacting potentially unconstitutional and costly new gun control mandates are not the answer to keeping New Yorkers safe.”

The official line from Republican Conference Leader Dean Skelos is that “conversations” with the governor and Assembly regarding the issue are ongoing, including proposals that might broaden the definition of banned assault weapons.